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Melbourne: what we know so far about the Bourke Street attack Melbourne: what we know so far about the Bourke Street attack
(about 3 hours later)
One man was killed and two others injured after a man, identified by police as Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, went on the rampage on Bourke Street in Melbourne’s city centre on Friday afternoon. Sisto Malaspina, the co-owner of the popular Melbourne Italian cafe Pellegrini’s was killed after Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, went on the rampage in Bourke Street in Melbourne’s city centre on Friday afternoon.
The suspected attacker was shot by police and taken to hospital under guard, but died shortly afterwards. Two others were injured. Tasmanian retiree Rod Patterson, 58 and a 24-year-old security guard from Hampton Park who are both recovering at Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Police are treating attack as a terrorist incident. The attacker was known to known to counter-terrorism authorities at state and national level, and had relatives who were persons of interest. Police shot Shire Ali and he was taken to hospital under guard, but died shortly afterwards.
The man, who lived in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne, had a history of minor drug, theft and driving offences. He had migrated from Somalia to Australia in the 1990s, police said. Police are treating the attack as a terrorist incident. Shire Ali was known to counter-terrorism authorities at state and national level, and he had relatives who were persons of interest.
The injuries of the other two men were not life-threatening, police said. Shire Ali’s passport had been cancelled in 2015 when Asio assessed he had intentions to travel to Syria to fight with Islamic State extremists.
One of the victims, is Tasmanian retiree Rod Patterson, 58, who had intervened to try and stop the attack, according to media reports. Authorities were not actively monitoring him before the incident.
The man drove a 4x4 laden with gas cylinders, police have said. Witnesses said the man drove the vehicle outside the Target centre about 4.20pm. As the car went up in flames, he attempted to stab people and fought with police and bystanders. Joint counter-terrorism investigators were raiding two addresses in Werribee and Meadows Heights on Saturday morning.
Police shot the man in the chest after he was seen lunging at them with a knife. Shire Ali had a history of minor drug, theft and driving offences. He had migrated from Somalia to Australia in the 1990s, police said.
People could be seen trying to help the police, using a shopping trolley and a chair to fend the man off. Shire Ali drove a 4x4 laden with gas cylinders. Witnesses said the man drove the vehicle outside the Target centre about 4.20pm. As the car went up in flames, he attempted to stab people and fought with police and bystanders.
A body could be seen on the pavement outside one store. Police said two others were injured, but their condition is not yet known. The police officer who shot the man in the chest, had been out of the police academy for three months.
The bomb response unit cordoned off the area and the car fire was extinguished. People could be seen trying to help the police, using a shopping trolley and a chair to fend off the man.
People were urged to stay away from Bourke Street, Swanston Street and the Melbourne CBD, much of which would be closed until at least 8am on Saturday, police said. Islamic State has claimed the attack, and police say Shire Ali had links to Isis
Islamic State has claimed the attack, but there has not been any independent corroboration of the group’s claim. The police presence in the city and at major events such as the Flemington races and remembrance day services has been stepped up.
Sisto Malaspina, the co-owner of the popular Melbourne Italian cafe Pellegrini’s was killed after Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, went on the rampage in Bourke Street in Melbourne’s city centre on Friday afternoon.
Two others were injured. Tasmanian retiree Rod Patterson, 58 and a 24-year-old security guard from Hampton Park who are both recovering at Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Police shot Shire Ali and he was taken to hospital under guard, but died shortly afterwards.
Police are treating the attack as a terrorist incident. Shire Ali was known to counter-terrorism authorities at state and national level, and he had relatives who were persons of interest.
Shire Ali’s passport had been cancelled in 2015 when Asio assessed he had intentions to travel to Syria to fight with Islamic State extremists.
Authorities were not actively monitoring him before the incident.
Joint counter-terrorism investigators were raiding two addresses in Werribee and Meadows Heights on Saturday morning.
Shire Ali had a history of minor drug, theft and driving offences. He had migrated from Somalia to Australia in the 1990s, police said.
Shire Ali drove a 4x4 laden with gas cylinders. Witnesses said the man drove the vehicle outside the Target centre about 4.20pm. As the car went up in flames, he attempted to stab people and fought with police and bystanders.
The police officer who shot the man in the chest, had been out of the police academy for three months.
People could be seen trying to help the police, using a shopping trolley and a chair to fend off the man.
Islamic State has claimed the attack, and police say Shire Ali had links to Isis
The police presence in the city and at major events such as the Flemington races and remembrance day services has been stepped up.
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